Valentine’s Day is the largest floral holiday of the year. It seems like every shop becomes a florist this time of year. Big box stores, gas stations… Everyone has flowers out. But, they are not all treated equally. There are reasons you should buy your flowers from a local flower shop.

The Freshest Flowers

Florists have tricks. They know how to properly cut stems, what solutions to put stems in, and they probably have a cooler to keep the flowers in. All of these things will keep the flowers at their peak. Look closely when you are looking at flowers in the big box stores. They may be convenient but if you notice murky water with a bad smell, browning or yellowing on petals or leaves, or drooping or wilting stems–walk away. Those flowers won’t last much longer. Wouldn’t you rather give a gift that will last several more days?

Eliminate the Middle Man

There are many national websites that advertise floral arrangements at set prices. When you order from those, they contact a local florist to fulfill and deliver that order. Sounds great, right?! You may pay $70 through the site but the site will keep some of that for their service and may only pay the local florist $50 to fulfill the order. So, you are getting a $50 arrangement for $70. Herein lies the problem. A quick google search will let you know of all of the florists in your area. Call them directly to get more for your money. And trust me… They appreciate you calling directly.

You Can Get What You Want

Most of the “convenience flowers” we see in non-floral stores are red, pink, or white. They are mostly roses, maybe carnations or daisies… Maybe the person you are buying for wants those flowers. Maybe they don’t. If your significant other loves yellow flowers for example, your local florist can probably make a custom arrangment for you. Maybe they like a certain style or unusual flower. A local florist can probably make something happen. Quick tip though: If you want something specific, order in advance. Actually, always order in advance if you can! They appreciate being able to plan ahead!

We all know the community benefits of buying from a local company but I hope I have given you a few new reasons to buy local this Valentine’s Day, as well. I am not participating in Valentine’s Day for 2019 but I am happy to answer any questions or point you in the right direction of which florist would be best for what you are wanting. Leave a comment or feel free to email me directly at [email protected].

Happy Valentine’s Day!